By a 198-168 vote, delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation
(AFB) convention went on record as being against industrial hemp
production and research. This is in sharp contrast to 1996, when
AFB delegates unanimously endorsed a resolution to encourage research
into the viability and economic potential of industrial hemp production
in the United States.

The reason for this turn-around was voiced by Missouri Farm
Bureau President Charles Kruse, who complained that the AFB was
being manipulated by groups interested in marijuana law reform.
Kruse was quoted as saying "don't take the good name of the
Farm Bureau and associate it with these people" and "if
we say we support research, we are going to continue to be used."
Unfortunately, Kruse doesn't realize that he and the AFB are actually
being used by the law enforcement community. Consider the following
inane statement made to Congress by President Clinton's chief
drug policy adviser, Drug Czar Fubar Barry McCaffrey: "lifting
the ban on hemp cultivation in the United States would promote
increased availability of marijuana, not legitimate commerce."
Eric Steenstra, Vice President of Ecolution, responded to the
AFB vote by saying "it is a big disappointment to see farmers
succumbing to pressure from law enforcement." Steenstra believes
that the AFB changed their position based upon inaccurate information.

This situation should motivate hempsters around the country
to contact the AFB or their local farm bureau or grange and educate
them about hemp's economic potential and environmental benefits.
Joining the AFB is also a good way to promote change from within.
[ AFB: fbnews@fb.com, Don Lipton, 704-348-1435, donl@fb.com, Mace
Thornton, 704-348-1435, macet@fb.com, www.fb.com ]
=-=-=-=-=-

BIBLE BELT HEMPSTERS DON'T BUCKLE UNDER PRESSURE

When Anita Teinert opened the Simply Hemp kiosk at Midland
Park Mall in Texas, she wasn't intending to promote the use of
marijuana by selling products made of industrial hemp. Rather,
Ms. Teinert was more interested in the durable and versatile nature
of hemp. Unfortunately, members of a local Bible Study class believe
that selling hemp products sends the wrong message to children.
Complaints to the mall administrators may result in the renaming
of Simply Hemp. In the meantime, every item that Teinert wants
to sell at her kiosk has to be inspected by mall administrators
to ensure that it has no marijuana designs or labels. [Ed's note:
Perhaps the names Simply Zero Tolerance or Fascist Fashions should
be considered.]
=-=-=-=-=-

THE EMPEROR'S NEW MOVIE

Over 600,000 copies of Jack Herer's landmark book, The Emperor
Wears No Clothes, have been sold. Herer's research, writing, and
activism is responsible for almost single handedly jump-starting
the modern hemp industry. Now, an insightful group wants to produce
a feature length documentary movie based on the "hempster's
bible". The documentary will focus on industrial hemp, medical
marijuana, and assorted conspiracy theories. Interviews with Jack
and other cannabis hemp experts will be interspersed with a sure
to be hempy soundtrack. Double J Films, which acquired the filming
rights to Jack's book, is looking for funding to help accomplish
this historic project. [ Double J Films, Jeff Meyers, 805-648-3952,
jmeyers@isle.net ]
=-=-=-=-=-

HEMP RACING TEAM ROUNDS UP SUPPORT

Bridgestone, one of the largest tire manufactures in the world
has offered its support to the Hemp Racing Team (HRT) for the
1998 racing season. The Hemp Racing Team will be competing in
the final 12 races of the AMA 250 National Series. The HRT had
to miss the first scheduled race in Phoenix because of a lack
of funding. "Representing the hemp industry is important"
said Yvonne Ramage, the owner of the Hemp Racing Team. "We
are looking forward to continuing the work we have been doing
for this incredible industry. With 300,000 motorcyclists traveling
to Daytona Bike Week in March, the potential impact is huge."
Marcello, HRT's multifaceted rider, won a 125cc class race at
Daytona in 1996. He is also known for singing the national anthem
before races and for his trademark "reverse wheelie".
The next three HRT race dates are:

HRT is still looking for hemp companies to help sponsor their
effort. [ Hemp Racing Team (HRT), 208-478-1765, knewseed@sisna.com,
www.knewseed.com, www.e-z.net/~ramage ]
=-=-=-=-=-

HEMPSTORES.COM - LOG ON, TUNE IN, HEMP OUT!

Several innovative hempsters have started a new web site that
they hope will benefit the entire hemp industry. Hempstores.com's
search engine allows visitors to locate, and hopefully patronize,
their nearest hemp retailer. Hempstores.com also utilizes the
"Where Can I Get More Hemp" logo to increase overall
awareness. The listing of hemp retail stores on Hempstores.com
will help manufacturers of hemp products determine which stores
are not carrying their products, thereby creating future sales
possibilities. Because of the number of companies involved, the
cost to participate in Hempstores.com is low. Retailers can have
enhanced listings and manufacturers can have their web sites linked.
Hempstores.com is looking for three more sponsors to join Ecolution,
Headcase, Hempseed.com, Hempy's, and the HIA in this effort. [
1-500-HIA-HEMP, info@thehia.org, www.hempstores.com ]
=-=-=-=-=-

HIA CONVENTIONS: 1998 AND 1999

The 5th Annual HIA Convention will be held at the beautiful
Isis Oasis in Sonoma County, California on September 19, 20, &
21, 1998. This is the same location that last year's convention
was held. The HIA convention is an excellent networking and learning
opportunity for all involved. Don't miss it! In addition, proposals
for hosting the 1999 HIA Convention are being accepted now. Contact
the HIA office if you have any ideas about when and where this
end of the century gathering could be held. [ HIA, Candi Penn,
1-500-HIA-HEMP, info@thehia.org, www.thehia.org ]
=-=-=-=-=-

DRINKING IN THE HEMP

Hempsters who enjoy an occasional beer and/or glass of wine
will be glad to know that three new hemp beverages have hit the
market. In addition to Hempen Ale and Hempen Gold from Frederick
Brewing Company (NASDAQ symbol: BLUE), two new hemp beers and
a hemp wine were recently introduced. Out of the Bluegrass state
comes Kentucky Hemp Beer, a light and imminently drinkable beer.
Lexington Brewing Company, which makes Kentucky Hemp Beer, replaces
one third of the regular amount of hops with crushed hemp seeds
during the brewing process. From California's Emerald Triangle
comes Humboldt Hemp Ale, a dark brown ale topped with a thick,
creamy head. Humboldt Hemp Ale is available in Northern California
and will be on tap at the Santa Cruz Industrial Hemp Expo. Hemp
Wine, bottled by Nirvana Homebrews Winery in Dundee, New York
is a "fine white wine blended with natural hemp. Hemp Wine
has a beautiful light color and is not too sweet. There is very
little noticeable hemp flavor although it does possess a certain
earthiness. [ Kentucky Hemp Beer, Mike Hart, 606-252-6004, Hemp
Wine, Eric Geetter, 888-520-9463, www.hempwine.com ]
=-=-=-=-=-

COLORADO INITIATIVE

On Friday, January 30, Colorado Citizens for Compassionate
Cannabis (CCCC) filed a ballot initiative, the Compassionate Therapeutic
Cannabis Act (CTCA), that would allow the therapeutic use of cannabis
by medical patients under the advice of their physicians. CCCC
is a group of Colorado patients and family members, medical professionals,
caregivers, and others who support the compassionate use of cannabis
in the treatment of symptoms of a variety of illnesses. The CTCA
eliminates the term "marihuana" from all Colorado statutes
and mandates the use of accurate terminology based on the historic
uses and varieties of Cannabis Sativa. The clarification of the
definition of marihuana would result in treating industrial hemp
as an agricultural product. 55,000 valid signatures are needed
before August 3, 1998 and donations to this effort are essential
if it is to be successful. The text of the initiative is online
at www.levellers.org/ctca.htm. [ Colorado Citizens for Compassionate
Cannabis, Joseph Vigorito, P.O. Box 729, Nederland, CO 80466,
303-784-5632, cohip@levellers.org, support@eagle-access.net ]
=-=-=-=-=-

INVEST IN THE FUTURE, HIRE A YOUNG HEMPSTER

More and more graduating college students want to find work
in the hemp industry. It is the industry's responsibility to try
and hire some of the bright young minds who want to contribute.
Recently, two such prospective graduates sent out internet requests
for employment. Please consider them for internships or full time
positions.

Dennis Midkiff is a Senior majoring in Agribusiness at Texas
A&M University. Dennis supports the use of industrial hemp
as a cash crop for the American farmer and he is very interested
in working in the hemp industry. Agribusiness majors must take
courses in finance, marketing, and agricultural economics &
policy. It is a very broad business degree with emphasis on the
dynamic world of agriculture. Dennis believes he can work his
way up through a company if he is given a chance. [Ed's note:
As a 1981 graduate of Texas A&M, I can personally attest to
the excellent academic standards of this fine institution. Gig
'Em Aggies!!] [ Dennis Midkiff, 409-822-2228, dlm6690@unix.tamu.edu
]

Marlayna Gehrking is majoring in Political Science at the University
of Minnesota. Marlayna comes from a farming family, which results
in her interest in sustainable agriculture. Marlayna wants to
assume a leadership role in her community when hemp cultivation
is legalized. In order to do that, she needs some practical experience.
She is therefore offering herself as a possible intern. If room
and board are supplied, Marlayna would consider an unpaid internship.
She has experience as an office assistant, is a fast learner and
is very reliable. [ Marlayna Gehrking, Marlayna.M.Gehrking-1@tc.umn.edu
]
=-=-=-=-=-

CANADIAN CANNABIS CORNER:

CANADIAN MULTI-STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP

Approximately 40 of Canada's most well respected and renowned
hempsters were invited to Ottawa on February 25-27 to comment
on the proposed regulations regarding the commercial cultivation
of industrial hemp. Over the last four years, Health Canada has
granted experimental licenses to grow hemp. They have confirmed
that for 1998, Canadian farmers will be able to obtain commercial
hemp licenses. The stakeholder workshop allowed farmers, manufacturers,
and researchers the opportunity to see what the regulations will
be. Attendees commented that while the regulations may be difficult
to work with, they are better than no regulations at all. Here's
to a successful and plentiful Canadian hemp season in 1998! [
Jean Peart, Hemp Project Manager, 613-954-6524, jean_peart@hc.sc.gc.ca,
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/main/drugs/ ]
=-=-=-=-=-

KENEX'S LAPRISE SETTING CANADIAN HEMP STANDARDS

If anyone is wondering how to create the infrastructure necessary
for the nascent hemp industry, they need look no further than
Ontario. Jean M. Laprise, President of Kenex Ltd., recently announced
the signing of an agreement with KittyHawk Securities Ltd. to
provide equity financing for Kenex of up to one and a half million
dollars. Kenex is investing over four million dollars to build
a 20,000 square foot hemp processing facility in Ontario. Kenex
is also contracting with local farmers to grow hemp in 1998. Laprise
hopes that 2,000 acres of hemp will be grown by farmers under
contract with Kenex in 1998. As such, Kenex is sponsoring an information
meeting on hemp for all interested growers on March 4th. There
will be information about hemp production, research, Health Canada
hemp regulations and market developments. This event is a follow-up
to the enormously beneficial field day held last August that was
attended by hundreds of farmers, hempsters, and industrialists.

By working with regional farmers, investing in the harvesting
and processing equipment, and developing markets for hemp based
products, Laprise is creating the hempster's utopian vision of
a locally sustainable, vertical industry. For more information
on Laprise and Kenex, check out the Winter, 1998 issue of HempWorld
for an article about the August, 1997 Kenex field day, written
by Ruth Shamai. [ Jean M. Laprise, 519-352-2968, laprise@kent.net,
www.kenex.org ]
=-=-=-=-=-

MANITOBA'S HEMP HELPED BY HEMPOLA

Manitoba's Agriculture Minister, Harry Enns, is hopeful that
farmers in this central Canadian province will apply to grow 5,000
acres of hemp in 1998. Enns said that "we're going to reintroduce
an age-old crop here that could replace the lost sugar beet industry
in Manitoba." Greg Herriott, of Hempola Inc., sees Manitoba
as leading the country in hemp production and processing, adding,
"Our vision is to create an entire infrastructure in the
province from growing to primary processing to secondary processing
to marketing and distribution." Herriott has met with a group
of local growers and investors who are interested in forming a
co-op to finance and run a hemp processing facility there. He
also wants to market a 100% home grown Canadian hemp seed oil
which will be more nutritious than the oil made from imported
hemp seed. [ Greg Herriott, 800-240-9215, hempola@hempola.com,
www.hempola.com ]
=-=-=-=-=-